Levelling with jockey wheel for long term parking
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Hi again folks. Just returning to this thread and yeah, I did change my screen name. Don't worry, I took no offence
Anyway after a bit of manoeuvring of the van, I've decided to park it with the nose facing in the uphill direction. I've let the A-frame go right down on the jockey wheel so it's quite close to the ground. At the rear I've put a couple of breeze blocks for the steadies to rest on, being careful not to over extend them.
Net result is that the van is just off level, with the rear end slightly lower than the front. This will allow water run off to the back, and the slight off-level isn't really noticeable when you're inside.
I've left the brake off, because I noticed after a couple of days with it on, you need a fair amount of elbow grease to release it. So although I was slightly uneasy about leaving it on a small incline, with no brakes engaged and just a couple of plastic chocks keep it in place, it's not rolled off anywhere so I'm happy with it.
The other thing is security - I currently have a Milenco hitch lock, but I'm intending to get a substantial wheel clamp. LIke a Bulldog Titan, which I notice my neighbour has put on his very expensive motorhome across the road. What do people generally use for security?
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Wheel lock/clamp and hitch lock always on when van is unattended for more than a couple of hours. You will probably find this is a requirement of your insurance company.
If you can set a post in concrete behind the van it would also do no harm. The more visual deterrents the better.
Colin
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What do people generally use for security?
We have an Alko hitch lock that we got for our second caravan and has fitted ever since. We also have a wheel clamp. We did have an Alko one that fits the 'holes' in your caravan wheels exactly and they are supposed to be one of the best. However I found it very fiddly to fit it has to be aligned very precisely. I changed to a Millenco Wraith which satisfies our insurance and is fitted within minutes.
But our caravan is in storage so that is enough for us. With yours being on your own drive then other variables come into the equation. What is the 'crime rate' for your area? Are you and your neighbours mostly at work during the day? Do you have security lighting with sensors? You could fit cornersteady locks (ouch) or have an alarm fitted. This doesn't have to be a high tech one, it could be one of the small simple battery powered units that simply goes off inside your caravan? A concrete post as mentioned? Someopele leave their EHU hooked up as it is thought thieves won't cut through a power lead (and will keep your battery charged).
The sad fact is that if someone wants your caravan they will get it no matter what. All you are doing is buying time and hopefully making it more difficult to get your caravan and perhaps they'll look for an easier target.
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Have you thought about fitting a tracker?
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Sorry forgot to mention but you can install very easily a Ring outdoor cam that connect to your wifi and gives notification on your phone wherever you happen to be when it detects anyone. We have two and they are very good, annoyingly so as you get a notification at 2am and you look at the phone to see two cats looking back at you!
I you want to keep any recordings then you have to have a monthly subscription but it's about £3.00 per camera, and £8 covers any amount.
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This topic has often been raised on this forum. The jockey wheel is part of the A-Frame, connected to the chassis and can take a substantial load whereas the steadies are usually bolted to the caravan wooden underside, not the chassis. Any uneven load on the steadies is undesirable and they are just there to steady the van and prevent rocking when moving around inside. Therefore it is essential that the wheels and jockey wheel take all the load. Raising the jockey wheel and taking the load on the steadies is a no-no in my view.
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I'm not going to disclose on here what security devices I use, but rest assured my van and the house has got every conceivable security device fitted - and more! - even though we live in a very low crime area. My past experience taught me that if some low life wants something enough, they will nick it - and all I can do is to make it as difficult as possible for them in the hope they will go for a softer target instead.
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if you wind up the jockey wheel you put too much strain on the corner steady's
the jockey wheel is designed to take the weight, the corner steady's are only steady's
I know some caravaners do but can bend a steady by doing so
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Drive thru crims Rich, the bane of rural communities😤
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